After seeing boxer, Manny Pacquiao doing a commercial which concluded with him bragging about his singing prowess, I started to think about “the sweet science. ”
Now, the Derby City was thrown into the forefront of international professional boxing in the 60’s with the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis. And, as a life-long boxing fan it kind of got me thinking; does professional boxing even have a hall of fame?
For years of watching guys slug it out, I really had no idea and lately I’ve been on kind of a sports enshrinement kick, specifically what local talents have made it to their respective halls, as it were. This is noted with my research on local hall of famers in baseball, basketball, and football.
After just a little bit of research I discovered that of course international professional boxing has a hall of fame. And, if you were wondering yes Sylvester Stallone is in said hall in the “observer” category.
Like the baseball hall of fame the boxing hall of fame is located in upstate New York, specifically the city of Canastota.
The enshrinees are a relatively small list of legends in the sport, and in this collection of icons of course Cassius Clay has been enshrined. Call him Clay or Ali, the Louisville native found his induction in 1990, in the “modern” category.
Because of the nature of the small club of athletes represented by the hall only one other local talent has been honored, Versailles native, Jack Blackburn who was inducted in 1992.
Blackburn first came to notoriety as a boxer taking on all-comers including the likes of Joe Gans, Sam Langford, and Philadelphia Jack O’Brien. However, he was inducted in the “Non-participant” category due to his work as a trainer, working with legends like Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Sammy Mandell among others.
For more info about the hall check out their website at the International Boxing Hall of Fame online.
Information from the Boxing Hall of Fame and Wikipedia.
Image courtesy of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
